Anders' horse snorted and slowed to a trot. As Fenris caught up, he jerked his chin towards the river in a silent question. Anders nodded, and they dismounted where a burbling stream fed into a shallow bank.

Anders' horse immediately clopped over to the stream and began to drink. Fenris dismounted and gave his horse a pat when it dropped its head down to graze at long yellow grass beneath foot. The elf pointedly averted his gaze when the telltale creak of bent leather was followed by approaching splashes of inch deep water. The splashes went past as Fenris kept his eyes to his horse, then ruffling grasses took their place. When the creak repeated its sound in reverse, Fenris' curiosity got the better of him.

Anders sat on a nearby tree stump, unlacing his left boot and slowly loosening the ties until he could inch out his leg, ankle, and foot. He turned the boot upside down and shook it gently until a pair of small pebbles flew out and skittered away. Anders attempted to look up into the boot to search for more rocks. Fenris looked sideways at him, one eye unblinking while the other remained covered by a fringe of white hair. The scent of musty wool and elfroot wafted over, punctuated at the end by an oaky musk.

Unsatisfied, Anders rolled up the leg of his trousers and pulled off his nearly knee length sock. He began shaking the sock out as well. A third rock fell out, uncharacteristically prompting a metal clang when it bounced off Anders' foot. Fenris' head snapped towards Anders' naked foot, eyebrows gathering together in consternation. A scowl formed as he stared. "Venhedis, what on Thedas is that?!" Fenris turned his back to the stump, turned back with a half raised finger, then turned away again, agitated.

"What's wrong? Is someone coming?" Anders looked around worriedly. Brown eyes searched the horizon for company. Finding none, he turned back to Fenris, whose palm now gestured at his feet.

"Is that... a toe ring?" Fenris pointed at a wide gold band glinting around Anders' second toe.

"What?" Anders looked back at his foot, eyes drawn to the shiny metal as recollection dawned. He broke into a grin, wiggling his toes in appreciation at a presumed compliment. "Oh, do you like it?"

"No, I do not," Fenris spat out. "Ridiculous."

Anders' smile turned downwards into a disappointed pout. "Then why did you mention it?"

"Because it's… inappropriate." Fenris cringed. "I told you. We must conserve our coin. There is no room for luxuries. We could have traded that in Nevarra. Even in Tevinter, men do not wear hidden jewelry."

"So? I hear it's common in Rivain," Anders countered. "They have a saying there that I rather like. If the ring fits, wear it." Anders rubbed his earlobe between two fingers, missing the ring he'd long since sold.

"But… there's nothing practical about it!" Fenris looked like he might stroke out in pure frustration.

"Of course not!" Anders shrugged. "It's just for fun. I've had it forever. Honestly, I forgot it was there."

"Just for fun?" Fenris' forehead scrunched into angry lines. "Like your new boots?"

"Oh, no." Anders rolled his eyes. "Not that again."

"Yes, that. Again!" Fenris stared persistently into Anders' eyes, gaze forced away from that unshorn foot. It was a pointed expression that Anders had seen before only when Fenris was playing cards.

The mage sensed advantage and strolled closer, one foot still creaking while the other brushed quieter through thick grass. He watched as Fenris' stare travelled up his body. Anders dropped his voice to a low whisper, forcing Fenris to lean forward to hear it. "Unless you want to turn around and ride back to Nevarra for a refund, I'm done talking about this." He punctuated his point by putting his naked foot on Fenris' knee and pushing gently. The wind sensed their held breaths and blew stronger in sympathy. Bunched trousers ruffled, pale leg flexing as a sunbeam travelled down fine blond hairs to the gold ring.

Fenris saw an echoing glow and recognizing it as the activation of his brands. Shutting them down with forced will, he strode to the stump and snatched the left boot from the ground. In a smooth motion, he pulled a small dagger from his belt while seating himself on the stump. He drew the boot to eye level and cut the leather tab that held the first brass ring near the toe in place. Anders dropped his mouth open in shock, gaping as if Fenris had just broken a rabbit's neck in front of him. Satisfied, Fenris cut another leather tab, this one holding the ring in place at the top of the boot. Anders' nostrils flared.

"This is for wasting money." Fenris shook the row of rings, satisfied by a metal clank. Then he shoved them angrily into a belt pouch, tossing the boot toward Anders. He stood and sheathed the dagger.

Anders sighed, "I can't believe you." He snaked his wool sock back on before shoving his feet into the boot and lacing it up tightly with slow deliberation. Slender fingers gently touched the broken tab near the toe, a mournful expression washing over a long face. A tear inexplicably welled up, then receded.

Anders stood up, boots creaking. Fenris had crossed his arms while waiting. Anders took a step forward, looming until he cast a shadow over Fenris from white hair to half-hidden forest green eyes to bared teeth. Anders looked down his nose at his elven companion, wondering how a purposefully cruel act designed to make him give up only made Anders more determined to see the day through. A cloud passed overhead, further deepening the shadow on Fenris and revealing the circles under Anders' eyes.

Anders did his best to sound nonchalant. "Can we go now?" His best was not particularly good. Anders was spooked, and the words came out more like a whined entreaty than the pointed sarcasm intended.

"By all means." Fenris gestured to their horses. Anders stepped forward to gather the reins of his horse and give the animal's nose a gentle pat. Fenris was mounted and waiting again by the time Anders settled onto his horse, the new boots releasing that grating creak.

Fenris could not repress a growl. It was the last sound either of them made until well after nightfall.